Parkland coach Scott Mang believes that his team can win a state championship this season if they could play in the first half the way they do in the second. He also admits that the first-half version of his team could get knocked out in the first round of the District 11 Tournament that begins next week.

In Saturday afternoon’s EPC championship game at Whitehall High School, the third-seeded Trojans did just enough in the final 40 minutes to overcome a 2-1 deficit and defeat No. 4 Freedom 3-2 in a thrilling championship contest.

Javan Roustic delivered a sensational shot from well outside the box to tie the game at two with 8:21 remaining, less than two minutes before Ethan Frey got behind the Freedom defense to convert a breakaway into the game-winning goal with 6:28 left in the game.

It was a continuation of a constant theme for the Trojans in the postseason, and specifically against Freedom, as Parkland scored twice in 84 seconds in Thursday’s semifinal win over Northampton and twice in 19 seconds in last year’s District 11 semifinal win over the Patriots to turn a 1-0 loss into a 2-1 win.

“It seems like they just come in droves, quick,” Mang said. “In the second half, we could be state champs, but we might get knocked out in the first game if that’s how we show up.”

Evan Plasco punished the sluggish start by the Trojans in just over six minutes as his long throw-in from the right sideline trickled back to him with several defenders still standing between him and the goal. The game-winning goal scorer in a semifinal shootout against Emmaus on Thursday danced past one defender, cut back to his right and blasted a shot that deflected off Parkland goalkeeper Matt Feiler and onto the crossbar before bouncing back down into the net to give Freedom an early lead.

It took no time at all for Parkland to respond as junior defender Thomas Fairbairn was punished for a tackle on Parkland’s Jacob Tawfik at the edge of the box to set up EPC MVP Alex Hurwitz with a penalty kick attempt he’s yet to miss on the season.

The West Chester University commit calmly stepped up and slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner to reset the scoreline after an exciting opening 10 minutes.

The Patriots somehow survived a chaotic sequence off a Parkland free kick as goalkeeper Ben Rodriguez punched out the initial service, retreated to make a diving save and watched both Fairbairn and Liam Curtin make clearances off the line to keep the game tied at one.

The next big opportunity was capitalized on by the Patriots as Fairbairn made up for his earlier mistake.

On a dangerous free kick just outside the box, Caden Grimmer delivered a driven cross toward the penalty spot that was knocked down by Mason Duzant in a perfect position for Fairbairn to charge and volley the bouncing ball into the roof of the net with just 27 seconds remaining in the half.

It looked like that goal would be enough for the Patriots to claim their first championship since a league title in 2021 with Alex Hurwitz’s free kick just outside the box coming as the only real opportunity in the first 30 minutes of the second half to tie the game.

Instead, Parkland found some magic from an unlikely source.

“I don’t usually take shots like that, and I was doubting myself at first, but I was like, ‘What do I lose in taking it?’” Roustic said. “So, I just took the shot and it went in.

“I’ve never felt anything like it. My mind was racing and my body felt all the adrenaline in the world.”

“When he hit it, he didn’t even know what to do,” Mang said. “He just stood there. It was really surreal for everybody.”

The fifth-year coach of the Trojans couldn’t say enough positive things about his spark plug off the bench who does so much more than his one goal on the season entering the day shows.

“He’s new this year, but he’s working his way into a bunch of different spots. One thing is that he’s consistent,” Mang said. “You know he’s going to work. You know he’s going to defend. I never expected him to hit [that] shot.”

The Trojans could’ve sat back after getting the decisive game-tying goal they were searching for, but their hat-trick hero from Thursday night, Ethan Frey, who exited Saturday’s game on a number of occasions with injuries, had more magic in mind.

Eddie Curelar won the ball in the midfield for Parkland and played a bouncing ball over the top of the Freedom defense where Frey found a spot in behind, settled the ball, rounded the keeper and tapped in the winning goal to deliver the first league championship in four years for the Trojans.

“We were here two years ago. I played maybe a minute or two all game, but we lost in really bad fashion – 3-1 to Emmaus – and when we got back here, the only thought was that no matter what happens, no matter how much we go down, no matter how much I get hit, you’ve got to get back up,” Frey said. “It’s all in the heart. You’ve got to keep going, and no matter the blood, sweat, tears…I wanted the championship.

“I look at my trophies every night, and I only wonder how hard you work to get to where you go,” he said. “To be able to win trophies, it’s more than just to show up, kick a ball around and hope to win. You have to go for 80 full minutes, and if you don’t, that’s what can happen.”

All-star accolades

The all-EPC first team was recognized before the game with both finalists boasting a pair of nominees in Caden Grimmer and Angel Gaviria for Freedom and Alex Hurwitz and Eddie Curelar for the Trojans. The four semifinalists in the tournament, including Northampton and Emmaus, made up all but one spot on the team with Nazareth’s Evan Crescenzo being the only other selection.

Here are the full teams:

First Team

Sr. GK Ryan Nahf, Northampton

Sr. DEF Lorenzo LoPiccolo, Emmaus

Sr. DEF Angel Gaviria, Freedom

Jr. DEF Noah Delgado, Emmaus

Sr. DEF Blake Turner, Northampton

Sr. MID Caden Grimmer, Freedom

Sr. MID Alex Hurwitz, Parkland (MVP)

Jr. MID Brennan Stack, Emmaus

Sr. FWD Eddie Curelar, Parkland

Sr. FWD Evan Crescenzo, Nazareth

Jr. FWD Jacob Fallenstein, Northampton

Second Team

Sr. GK Colin Himelright, ES South

Sr. DEF Jibril Settles, Whitehall

Sr. DEF Gavin Lewis, Pleasant Valley

Sr. DEF Matias Palma, Liberty

Sr. MID William Quiros-Figueroa, Whitehall

Sr. MID Diego Almanzar, Liberty

Jr. MID Joseph Gonzales, Northampton

Sr. FWD Anthony Suida, Emmaus

Sr. FWD Connor Smith, PM East

Jr. FWD Jariel Medina, Northampton

Sr. UTIL Carter Shirk, Parkland

Third Team

Jr. GK Matthew Laquintano, Easton

Sr. DEF Zachary Slenker, Parkland

Jr. DEF Xavier Kieber-Emmons, Emmaus

Jr. DEF Blake Lavenburg, Northampton

Sr. MID Christian Pinheiro, Pleasant Valley

Sr. MID Logan Espinal, Freedom

Jr. MID Zayan Yasir, Parkland

Sr. FWD Gabe Ferguson, Stroudsburg

Jr. FWD Julian Park, Parkland

Jr. FWD Jhustin Perez, PM West

Sr. UTIL Evan Schultz, Becahi

Sr. UTIL Elliot Flicker, Nazareth

Sr. UTIL Cole Clifford, PM East

Derek Bast is a freelance reporter who can be found on Twitter/X at @derek_bast or reached by email at derekbast11@gmail.com.